PHOENIX -- Gun rights supporters carried holstered handguns, semi-automatic rifles and signs in support of their Second Amendment rights Friday morning outside of the Arizona State Capitol.

The group of approximately 100 people are concerned with the possibility of much stricter gun control laws coming out of Congress after the Newtown school shooting. Holly Murphy said she feels the need to have an AR-15 rifle which could eventually fall under an assault weapons ban.

"I'm speaking up for women who want AR-15s and high-capacity ammo magazines. We're defending our homes and children and we need the extra rounds. There could be multiple intruders. A 250-pound man who intrudes into a home may not be taken down with four bullets."

Murphy also fears the possibility of much tighter gun laws.

"First it's our high-capacity magazines," she said. "Who knows what it will be next? I'm here to make sure our rights are not taken away."

The group largely doesn't support universal background checks and said it's time to start enforcing the laws already on the books.

Mike Smith said gun opponents are using tragedies like the Aurora, Colo. movie theater shooting and the Sandy Hook school shooting to take the rights away from legal gun owners.

"They think taking guns away is going to stop people from killing each other? It's not. They're jumping onboard with an assault weapons ban when they account for less than 1 percent of all gun deaths."

About the Author

Have covered some of the biggest stories in Arizona including nine of the top 10 largest wildfires in state history. The Wallow Fire in 2011 became the largest fire in state history. Rodeo-Chediski Fire in June 2002, which is the second largest fire in Arizona. Covered the Yarnell Hill Tragedy in June 2013 that left 19 Granite Mountain Hotshots dead.

Favorite movies: True Grit, both 1969 John Wayne classic and the remake with Jeff Bridges and Lonesome Dove.

Sports Teams: Washington State University Cougars, Texas Longhorns, The University of Montana Grizzlies.